KUALA LUMPUR — Sarawak’s Premier, Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, has expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for agreeing in principle to increase the number of parliamentary seats for the state.
However, he stressed that further discussions are necessary to determine whether the state will eventually secure one-third representation in Parliament, Borneo Post reported.
“We thank the Prime Minister because he has agreed to increase the number of parliamentary seats. Whether it can meet the one-third requirement, we will negotiate,” said Abang Johari, speaking to reporters after launching the Development Bank of Sarawak (DBOS) Islamic Banking Window.
He emphasised that the timeline for confirming the increase in seats rests with the federal government.
“Parliament matters fall under the federal government, under the Prime Minister. And whether he can meet the one-third share, we will see how it goes,” he added.
The Premier also noted that any future meetings or negotiations would depend on the federal government’s call. “If he (Anwar) calls us, we will negotiate. If he doesn’t call, we just stay quiet,” he said.
Abang Johari’s comments follow a statement from Prime Minister Anwar, who recently announced in Kota Kinabalu that the federal government has agreed to raise the number of parliamentary seats for both Sabah and Sarawak based on voter numbers.
However, Anwar clarified that there is no current commitment to increasing the combined seats of the two states to one-third of the total in Parliament.
He noted that the actual allocation of seats would be determined by the Election Commission and that discussions on the matter were ongoing with legal officers from Sabah, Sarawak, and the Attorney General’s Chambers.
Currently, Sabah holds 25 seats in Parliament, while Sarawak has 31, out of the total 222 parliamentary seats. – November 17, 2025